The organization formerly possessed the Gerber Products Company, an important infant and baby products manufacturer, but in April 2007, Novartis announced the selling Gerber to Nestlé. Legal formalities were completed by 1st September 2007. This reputed company was established by the merger of Sandoz Laboratories and Ciba-Geigy, in the year 1996. Both these companies had their bases in the beautiful country of Switzerland and possess a rich history to boast of. This merger has been considered as the biggest merger in the corporate world, especially at that time. The merger made the company one of the largest organization in the health care industry. The company has grown leaps and bounds after the merger and this had a tremendous impact in the sector of pharmaceuticals.
In the year 1998, Novartis was in the headlines as it went into an agreement on biotechnology licensing with the noted UC Berkeley Department of Plant and Microbial Biology. However, the agreement soon expired in the year 2003. This was due to the fact that there were concerns voiced from several critics. In the year 2003, Novartis amalgamated its division of agriculture and the division of AstraZeneca and created Syngeta. In the year 2003, Novartis made Sandoz, a subsidiary which clumps its generic production of drug, reutilizing the brand of one of its previous companies. On 20th April, 2006, Novartis took control of Chiron Corporation, based in California. Chiron was previously divided up into three blocks: Chiron Vaccines and Chiron Blood Testing, which have now been amalgamated to constitute Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, and Chiron BioPharmaceuticals, was incorporated into Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
The in progress Basel Campus Project has been aimed to convert the St. Johann site – the headquarters of Novartis in Basel - "from an industrial complex to a place of innovation, knowledge and encounter”. The organization is surely on its way to accomplish it, and will undoubtedly do so. In the recent developments, Novartis has challenged the patent laws of the country of India. A lot of uproar was created as many people in the country of India cannot afford to buy costly medicines, needed for serious illness like AIDS, diabetes, cancer and others. The Madras high court ruled against the organization and the company did not proceed any further.
The organization has played a pioneer role in manufacturing medicines that can cure several serious ailments. Many reputed hospitals around the world are tied up with Novartis for providing drugs and other medical services. The brand is very popular in the medical fraternity and medical stores are well stocked with medicines and drugs manufactured by this reputed organization. The company is consistent in providing quality services to its customers and clients, worldwide.
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